Within a showcase on the upper level of the Melbourne Cricket Ground rests a neon pink outfit worn by Robbie Williams. His performance in front of a massive crowd of spectators was hailed as a success.
It's possible you enjoy the performer. You might think he is the finest offering to music the world has ever seen. Alternatively, you may hold a balanced view, admitting that some tracks are fantastic while others are awful.
The key argument is that amusement can manifest in countless ways. You like what you like. There is no one way to craft art or even the longest format.
The Incomparable Variety of The Test Format
Test cricket boasts unrivalled depth. It is hard to think of another sport where the playing is so reliant upon external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the factors are countless. Above all is the playing surface.
If the long game is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the players craft their legacy.
A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game taken to pieces and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
It must be stated this is not a justification of the pitch which resulted in a victory and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, leading to numerous dismissals being taken in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any suggestion this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and counting. At times, as witnessed recently, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. In contrast, it turns square on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it bounces unevenly.
The close matches are all the more thrilling due to the time made elsewhere.
Problem Solving: The True Test
Some factors are embraced more easily than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the equilibrium was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the skilled individuals were prevented from demonstrating their skill.
The format is about finding solutions – assessing the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual scores were made by world-class batters. One line-up was less disciplined than the other, and thus were defeated.
Pure Elation: The Fan Perspective
Go and inform the devotees who have endured years of defeat that this wasn't compelling.
In a corner of the stadium, a sea of people celebrated and chanted, producing a festive mood in a heartland of national pride.
There was belief as the attack dominated, momentum when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the victory was confirmed.
Contrasting Examples: The Variety of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with controversial surfaces. Eight years ago, a game there featured a wicket with the character of a a damp squib.
That match was a grind, with limited drama and slow play. The latest encounter and that slow Test are polar opposites of the scale – neither perfect, yet historical weight can be found in both.
Deep into the series into the Ashes contest, it is the shortest games that will be most remembered in the memory.
"Far from being the end of the format at all," observed a veteran. "Spectators who have been lucky enough to see these 48 hours have been given some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Small Victories: A Glimmer of Hope
In the lead-in to this Test, the captain addressed the media like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The players delivered for him, bringing back the smile to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to secure long-term futures, but a foundation to develop from.
Ultimately, this triumph joins other notable performances in meaningless games.
As the fans left into a stunning sunset, the squad congregated on the turf to begin their own festivities.
Celebrate the win, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
